December 19, 2013

great grids

Fudge. The floor is sticky, there's no more sugar in the cupboard, our arms are aching from beating, and we all feel slightly sick. Still, the results look nice when cut into a neat grid of squares.

More here on making this with Phoebe. The recipe sounds simple enough but as with anything that requires a sugar thermometer, it's tricky to make. So both batches had to be melted down again and reheated and rebeaten and reset. What should have taken about an hour took an afternoon and evening. All I want now is a pretzel.

Lovely stamps. I make a point of asking for interesting stamps; the last 'interesting' ones I had were were merchant navy ships, so I was very happy to get this sheet of jolly characters today. It makes sending stuff through the post - even bill payments - so much nicer when you can peel off Paddington Bear or Peppa Pig and stick him or her (?) on an envelope.

Imprisoned teddy bears. The security grid was taken off when the shop opened, but I preferred the effect with it on. They look so miserable, but it's a great window display (here).

Scrabble. Someone sorted out the board on holiday this summer. So much less competitive and therapeutic than actually playing. (It reminds me of sorting out Quality Street.)

Graffiti on shutters in Shoreditch. Like a coloured-in map of New York City.

I could go on all day looking at amazing grids (have you ever seen an aerial photo of Barcelona?) but I can't carry on for ever avoiding Christmas wrapping paper with its useful cutting grids on the reverse (which is where this post started). How did we ever manage without them?